Go behind the scenes at Northants rehoming charity
Animals in Need is inviting visitors to take a behind-the-scenes look at its onsite veterinary facilities this Sunday, as part of its open day at Pinetree Farm, Irchester.
The charity’s vet room will be open for members of the public to visit and find out more about the facilities available to support the animals in its care, while also learning more about its Snip & Chip programme.
The programme has been running for around 18 months and forms part of Animals in Need’s wider efforts to tackle the growing number of unwanted cats and kittens entering rescue.
In 2026 alone, Animals in Need has already helped around 500 community cats through its work, highlighting the scale of the need within local communities.
“Supporting the community that supports us, and has supported us for years, means a lot to us,” says Kate from the Animals in Need veterinary team.
“There is such a huge need for this kind of work, and we want to do what we can to help prevent unwanted litters and support people and cats in our local community.”
With animal rescue centres across the country under increasing pressure and shelters struggling to cope with the number of animals needing help, the charity believes that prevention has an important role to play.
The aim of the Snip & Chip programme is to help reduce the number of unwanted cats being born in the first place, helping to tackle the problem at its source rather than simply trying to find homes for an ever-increasing number of cats.
Kate will be in the vet room throughout the open day to answer questions and talk to visitors about the programme, including anyone who may be considering applying.
“We thought it would be a great opportunity to open up the vet room and let people see our facilities for themselves,” says Kate.
“If you’re considering applying for the Snip & Chip programme, come along, have a look around, ask any questions you have and find out more about what we do.”
The charity is also looking at how it can support feral cat populations in the local area.
Animals in Need has recently been made aware of several feral cat colonies in Northampton town centre and is exploring the possibility of introducing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) work to help manage these populations humanely.
TNR involves safely trapping feral cats, having them neutered and then returning them to their established territory, helping to prevent further breeding while allowing cats that are not suitable for domestic life to remain in familiar surroundings.
For now, the charity is investigating what would be involved in supporting local colonies and how this could form part of its wider work to tackle cat overpopulation.
The open day tomorrow (Sunday, September 13) will also provide an opportunity for qualified vets and veterinary nurses who may be interested in joining the Animals in Need veterinary team to come along, see the facilities and meet the team.
With veterinary care playing such an important role in the charity’s work, Animals in Need is keen to hear from qualified veterinary professionals who would like to find out more about becoming part of the team.
Kate added: “We’re also looking for qualified vets and nurses to join our vet team, so if you’re interested, Sunday is a great chance to come along, see the facilities and have a chat with us.”
The vet room will be open as part of Animals in Need’s wider Open Day at Pinetree Farm this Sunday.
Visitors can enjoy a range of activities, stalls, refreshments and family entertainment, as well as the opportunity to learn more about the work the charity carries out every day.